With any takeover of Newcastle
United unlikely to materialise until next week at the
very earliest, one potential buyer did at least break cover
today.
Steve McMahon said that the Singapore-based investment company,
The Profitable Group, has submitted a bid for the newly relegated
club. Now The Profitable Group's commercial director, McMahon, the
former Liverpool and England midfielder, says its first act would
be to appoint Alan Shearer as
manager.
Even so, sources have suggested Profitable is not a major
contender to buy out Mike Ashley,
and question why McMahon would breach the non-disclosure agreements
which were supposed to bind all would-be purchasers to secrecy.
"We've had a bid in and it's under serious consideration,"
McMahon told Singapore's Straits Times. "It's a strategic move and
will be great for Newcastle. We can turn what is a disaster at the
moment into a success."
While it is understood Seymour Pierce, the investment bank
brokering the sale, have yet to recommend a buyer to Ashley, the
feeling is that one consortium from Malaysia and another from the
United States remain in pole position.
In the meantime Chris Hughton, Newcastle's caretaker manager, is
in Ireland with his squad ahead of tomorrow's opening pre-season
friendly at Shamrock Rovers.
"The feeling is that it [a takeover] is hopefully not too far
away," said Hughton today. "But until I'm told otherwise I'm here
to hold the fort for as long as possible. It does seem like there
are things going on, though, and, obviously, the sooner something
happens, the better for all concerned.
"As far as I know there have been at least two parties who have
made an offer and I could be in charge for another two days,
another four days or a bit longer. But I would have thought
something would happen sooner rather than later."